Country music once started out as “bout that twang and trains and hillbilly thing” as Trace Adkins would say. But as we have evolved and technology has changes so has societies taste in country music. Country music was founded in the rural part of society, but as time as gone on and people have changed so has the music. Country now has evolved into a more pop sound rather than the twang it started out as. Why has the music changed, and what caused this change? Let me take you back in time where it all began. We will need to dig back into time to learn about country and where it all started and how it has changed to what it is today.
Country music is defined as a style and genre of largely string-accompanied American popular music having roots in the folk music of the Southeast and cowboy music of the West, usually vocalized, generally simple in form and harmony, and accompanied by romantic or melancholy ballads accompanied by acoustic or electric guitar, banjo, violin, and harmonica (Dictionary.com). Country music first started out in the back woods or the sticks. This type of music reflects the expression of the “working class people”. Most country
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The lyrics of the songs are fitting with the times. Country songs in this decade are very traditional but with a new twist. Some songs will sing about the good ole’ days, religion, loves, lost loves, families and simpler times. Also lyrics to these new songs are very racy and provocative as well. A good example of this is Justin Aldean “Burning it Down” some of the lyrics “ You slip your finger through the tear of my t-shirt, you stirrin’ up dirty in the back of my mind”, “laying right here naked in my bed”. This new age country appeals to the younger crowd, rather then the class of ’89. Country of this generation is trying to appeal to more than one audience. This genre has the old age country mixed with new age pop
Country music originated in the 1920s in Tennessee. The genre was influenced by folk music from the Appalachian Mountains and revolved around themes of love, faith,
Country music is everywhere in the United States. It is America and people either love it or hate it. There is usually no middle ground. It accounts for sixteen percent of the nation’s radio stations and is the most common genre played on the radio. There are many different types of country music around today, including Americana, bluegrass, honky tonk, and contemporary country. Music of all genres has an evolution through the years. Country music hasn't
Country music is by far the best. Country music’s style is like no other. Almost every country song has a southern touch too it. Usually when someone hears a country song they can tell it is one because of the unique sound. Country music has some of the best singers to ever come out of the music industry. When I hear Martina McBride hit an impossible note, it sends shivers down my spine. Almost every artist in country music can really sing. Country music has more meaning to their songs, and they are deeper. Country music is a lot more relatable than any other type of music. People can understand Country music better, and they feel like they are going through what the song is about.
Music is a huge influence on many people. Rap and country music are two very popular genres of music. There are many common stereotypes that people associate with them. Both types of music are often disliked by people for various reasons. Rap music is often seen as gang related and full of violence. People think it is a negative influence. Country music is often seen as “redneck” or “hillbilly” music. Many people don’t like country music because they say it is not their type. Country is seen as much more positive. Rap and country music are two totally different styles of music and have many differences. They have a very different audience, singers, styles of music, and music videos they use for their songs.
Country music is a genre that some might absolutely love and some might absolutely hate. It is a style of music that developed in the southern and western U.S. and often contains lyrics relating to the lives of people who live in the country. While there are a lot of different types of country music, a very popular country artist of this time is Eric Church. Church brings a bit of a twist to country music, with really telling us how he feels. Talking about one of his songs in particular, “homeboy” about a lost young man needing to “come on home, boy.”
Country music has changed over the past decades, as all music does, stepping away from the focus on freedom, family, friends, faith, and home, to songs about women, drinking, dirt roads, and big trucks. Many people feel that this has led to the objectification of women, creating an unrealistic expectation for women to live up to. Most artist have followed the lead of this and are writing more and more songs about these issues to stay with the trends, as many people enjoy this twist because it is coming with incorporations of other styles of music. This concept has become know as bro country, music that men can relate to when they are talking to their buddies or bros. In “Girl in a Country Song” the lyrics tell a story of the girls
First, the lyrical content of country music is very distinct. Typically within a country song, the focus of the music is on storytelling. According to the website History of Country Music, this is one of the primary characteristics of country music. Particularly, it is stated “country music should have a strong storyline” (History of Country Music). There are several notable examples of this sort of musical storytelling; one of which is “Cocaine Blues” by Johnny Cash. He recounts the saga of a man on the run from the police for the murder of his wife, who finally gets caught and must accept his punishment in a court of law. The mentioned composition is slightly atypical of country songs in general
In "This is How we Roll" Florida Georgia Line transitions from singing their lyrics to a country rap where the beat slows and the lyrics are sped up on a rhyme scheme. Similarly, Future took a step away from an overload of modulated bass to incorporate a piano rift instead. We as listeners use these genres of music to describe the music we like to listen to. However, the spectrum is so broad that it is important to understand what composes a specific genre. There are hundreds of sub-genres included in the overall label of country or hip-hop music, and the list continues to expand as artists proceed to develop new creative ideas that make it to the top of the billboards. Both of these songs are examples of songs that swept the nation with popularity but experimented with new styles the diverged from the norms of the genre. I believe genres will always stay true to their cultural origins; however, I'm excited for the future of music as artists continue to dip into various new
The gender messages in country music are different than rap. The ratio of male to female artists in country music is three to one, with a lot of the female artists being of the second type that Andsager and Roe explained. Therefore more often than not, country music reinforces traditional gender messages. The good news is that gender messages are beginning to change. Women are now playing
Music is an art that has united people all over the world for centuries and centuries. Evolving throughout the years, music is split up into many different genres. These genres have derived from diverse time periods and cultures throughout the years. Jazz and Country music both originated in the early 1900s, but have had lasting impacts on completely different cultures. The detailed elements of each piece are dissimilar, but are equally effective in providing entertainment for each audience.
Country music is one of the most popular genres of music throughout America. There are many influential figures that have changed the way country music sounds, and how people interpret it. Two important people who have made a huge impact on country music overtime are Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan. From their early life, their career, and how society views them, they have opened the minds of people and country musicians all over the country. Johnny Cash’s songs help people to experience his life growing up through the Great Depression and how people lived back then. Through Luke Bryan’s songs people could understand what life was like for Luke growing up in Georgia and all the hardships he faced. Johnny Cash and Luke Bryan are two of the many
This is for the reason that this music is not a part of many African American’s culture. Country music is known for showing a sense of home and has songs that can take you back to the time you were growing up and bring nostalgia. Cecelia Tichi expresses that “[country music] can show the complex role of the home song both in country music and in broad-based American cultural traditions” (Tichi 21-22). This explains that country music exemplifies the backgrounds and customs of the American people. Although country music is listened to and appreciated by those that live in the south, and those that don’t, Nashville, Tennessee is seen as the home of country music.
What do you think of when you think of an old country song? Is it singing about plowing the fields, find a young lassie to dance with in the bar, getting drunk with the boys and so on. If That Ain’t Country by David Allan Coe tries to shine a new light on what country is and that is white-trash hicks, which he suggests are forgotten people in the world. We listen to this song and will giggle at some of the lyrics or are startled by how some parts are pretty racist, but it has a very true side of it that shows that country folk aren’t all classy, church going folk.
Johnny Cash said it best, “Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a lot of territory, country music does.” Country music is everywhere, blasting from a lifted truck, a store, or a local bar, ranging from Classical country to Pop country. Country music is not just words written down on a piece of paper, they are more than that. The artists can write songs that most people can relate to. Alan Jackson and Luke Bryan are both very known country singers, but are different when it comes down to managing their careers.
The lyrics in a country song are very diverse, one minute they’re talking about a loved one, or having a good time, or making love, or anything. The lyrics make the song have deeper meanings, and are very relatable. Country music lyrics are meant to be relatable to the common worker man. Country music has a certain crowd it attracts.